Virtual Method

Last Updated: December 28, 2011

Definition - What does Virtual Method mean?

A virtual method is a declared class method that allows overriding by a method with the same derived class signature. Virtual methods are tools used to implement the polymorphism feature of an object-oriented language, such as C#. When a virtual object instance method is invoked, the method to be called is determined based on the object's runtime type, which is usually that of the most derived class.

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Techopedia explains Virtual Method

A virtual method is used to override specified base class implementation when a runtime object is of the derived type. Thus, virtual methods facilitate the consistent functionality of a related object set.

An example of a virtual method implementation is classes Manager and Clerk, derived from the base class Employee with a CalculateSalary virtual method, which may be overridden in derived classes with the necessary logic for the appropriate type. A list of Employee type objects may be called at runtime to calculate a salary - without knowing the specific implementation type.

Virtual method implementation differs in programming languages like C++, Java, C# and Visual Basic .NET. In Java, all non-static methods are virtual by default, with the exception of methods that are private or marked with the keyword final. C# requires the keyword virtual for virtual methods, with the exception of private, static and abstract methods, and the keyword override for overriding the derived class method.

A pure virtual method is a virtual method that mandates a derived class to implement a method and does not allow instantiation of the base class, or abstract class.